MARRERO – Nearly two full calendar weeks into spring practice, one thing stands out clearly to Shaw head coach Scott Bairnsfather.

“As we’re on our 13th day of practice this spring, it has been a tough 12 practices so far because of the lack of experience we have,” Bairnsfather said. “Most of our guys with experience have graduated.”

Few other schools in the metro area will have as big a rebuilding project as Bairnsfather.

By Bradley Handwerger / WWL-TV.com

Shaw head coach Scott Bairnsfather watches over the Eagles' practice on a recent weekday. Bairnsfather's team must replace 18 starters from a squad that went 14-1 in 2007. Shaw has gone 28-2 over the past two seasons and finished runner-up in Class 4A both seasons.

He has to replace most of his offensive line, his standout running back Steffon Gray and quarterback Ramaad Robinson. And his defense isn’t left alone, as graduation left the secondary and defensive line inexperienced, too.

In all, 18 starters are gone from a team that went 14-1 and went to the state championship game. In fact, a good portion of the starters from last year had plenty of experience from Shaw’s 14-1 2006 state runner-up team.

“It’s a lot of new faces out there with very little experience,” Bairnsfather said.

But Bairnsfather knows the position he’s in. He also knows spring practice is his ally right now.

If not for these 15 practices days, well, let Bairnsfather tell you about this coming season.

“If we didn’t have spring training, I wouldn’t want to go to the games next year,” he said. “That’s how much work our kids are in need of right now. You’re looking at basically three guys playing junior high football last year that are going to be starting varsity on the offense line. That, for us, is the toughest place to play on the field.

“If they didn’t have spring practice, we’d have to play flag (football) next year.”

Yet, don’t expect Shaw to change what it does. Philosophically, Bairnsfather will remain the same. What will change depends on what players he can use and how well they can play.

“Schemes, we’ll tweak year in, year out,” he said. “Personnel issues will decide whether we are really going to change philosophies.”

And though for him it all starts with the offensive line, he does not have to start from scratch at the quarterback position.

By Bradley Handwerger / WWL-TV.com

Shaw quarterback Andrew Starkey returns after starting nine games for the Eagles in 2007. He'll be called upon to lead an offense with little experience returning.

Andrew Starkey will be a junior in the fall. He has nine starts under his belt after replacing Robinson, who tore one of his Anterior Cruciate Ligaments in Shaw’s 2007 district opener.

“He’s more comfortable,” Bairnsfather said. “He feels a little better about his position. He’s understanding more.”

Thus far, Starkey said there isn’t much pressure on his shoulders to carry the offense and team back into the playoffs and Superdome.

“There’s a little bit of pressure, but not a whole lot,” he said.

On Wednesday, Bairnsfather will see for the first time how far his team has come, and just how far it has to go. The Eagles will play Jesuit in a spring scrimmage at 5 p.m. at Tulane’s practice field.

“The biggest thing I’m going to look for in this game is if we can move the ball at all, if our inexperienced young line is battling,” Bairnsfather said. “If we’re blocking and we’re battling, I’m going to be happy.”

Shaw could win 7-0 or lose 48-3. Either way, there’s only one thing Bairnsfather is interested in seeing. It has nothing to do with numbers on a scoreboard.

“I want to see guys in the fight because they’ve never been in it before,” he said. “I want to see how they react to being in the fight for the first time.”